Russia’s state defense company Rostec, which is under Western sanctions, has increased its production of small arms ammunition and salvo rockets 50 times since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, its executive director Serhiy Chemezov said on Thursday.

“We have increased the production of ammunition for small arms and volley fire systems by 50 times,” he said during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, fragments of which were broadcast on state television, EFE and Agerpres reported.

In addition, he noted, the corporation increased the production of armored personnel carriers by 5.5 times and the production of battle tanks by 7 times.

“This is global growth,” said the head of Rostec, one of the world’s largest producers of weapons, planes, helicopters and other equipment.

Several independent Russian media outlets have denounced Rostec as evading Western sanctions through front companies that allow it to import restricted components needed to manufacture missiles and drones.

Both Putin and the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Sergei Shoigu, reported last year about the increase in the production of weapons in the country.

In September, the Russian president said that the production of armored vehicles tripled in the first nine months of this year.

Putin has repeatedly called for an increase in the production of anti-aircraft, anti-battery equipment and, in particular, drones. (photo source Dreamstime)